Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsRespiratory Allergy SymptomsCommon CausesDiagnosisTreatment
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Respiratory Allergy Symptoms
Common Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
Allergiesaffect the respiratory system and can cause breathing problems.Allergic asthmaandallergic rhinitis(hay fever) are two common types of respiratory allergies.
Allergy symptomsoccur when your immune system responds to anallergen(like pollen or pet dander) it misidentifies as a threat.The runny nose,congestion, and itchy,watery eyesof rhinitis, as well as the narrowed airways in allergic asthma, usually can be treated successfully.
This article describes the symptoms and causes of breathing allergies. It also explains how these respiratory allergies are diagnosed and treated.
Breathing allergies impact the airways and nasal passages of the respiratory system.
Symptoms of hay fever include:
How Common Is Hay Fever?Hay fever can be seasonal or year-round, depending on the cause. In 2021, hay fever affected 26% of all U.S. adults and 19% of children.
How Common Is Hay Fever?
Hay fever can be seasonal or year-round, depending on the cause. In 2021, hay fever affected 26% of all U.S. adults and 19% of children.
Symptoms of allergic asthma include:
Unmanaged allergic asthma can be life-threatening. If you experience difficulty breathing, start wheezing, or have a tight feeling in your chest, call your healthcare provider right away.
Scientists don’t fully understand why people develop respiratory allergies. However, they believe that genetics and environmental factors play a role in their development.
With a respiratory allergy, an allergen causes your symptoms. Like hay fever, some allergens are present seasonally, while others are present year-round.
Allergens that may trigger respiratory allergies include:
Environmental allergens most commonly cause allergic rhinitis. These include things liketree pollen, grass, ragweed pollen, mold, dust, and pet dander.
Why Do You Get Allergic Reactions?
If you have allergies, your healthcare provider will do a physical exam and take your medical history. In addition, they will likely perform allergy tests to determine what you’re allergic to. In some cases, you may be referred to anallergy specialist.
Allergy Tests
There are two basic types ofallergy tests:
Theradioallergosorbent(RAST) test is commonly available but the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) has recommended the more sensitive tests since 2010.
Asthma Tests
If you experience symptoms of allergic asthma, allergy tests can also help you identify your triggers. That way, you can avoid them and prevent future allergy attacks.
In addition to allergy testing,asthma testingincludes:
Respiratory allergies are typically lifelong. Some people diagnosed in childhood outgrow them over time, though adults can sometimes develop breathing allergies later in life.
Asthma Tests for Children
Children under age 5 aren’t usually given breathing tests. Instead, a healthcare provider will assess their symptoms, and if indicated, offer a bronchodilator (commonly called an inhaler). If the inhaler relieves their symptoms, they likely have asthma.
How Common Is Allergic Asthma?
Adult-Onset Allergies
The primarytreatment for respiratory allergiesis to avoid allergens that trigger your symptoms. If you’re unsure what your allergens are, allergy testing is valuable to establish what you need to avoid.
Avoid Triggers
To avoid allergens, try the following:
When Your Allergy Medicine Doesn’t Work Anymore
Control Symptoms With Medication
Avoiding allergens entirely isn’t always possible or practical. Often, people find that they must also manage their allergy symptoms and work to avoid allergens.
Managing allergies may involve:
Not all medications are the right choice for a specific situation, especially if you have underlying medical history or the potential for drug interactions, as is the case for immunotherapies in people who takebeta blockerdrugs.Talk to your healthcare provider to be sure you understand how to use inhalers and other medications as part of your treatment plan.
Biologics for Asthma and Allergies
Options to Consider Before Starting Immunotherapy for Your Allergies
Complementary Therapies
Complementary therapies are treatments you might use alongside standard medical treatment for your allergies. These might include:
It’s important to have a conversation with your healthcare provider before trying any complementary therapies. They can better assess if the type of treatment is right for you.
Which Allergy Medicines Can You Buy Without a Prescription?
Summary
An allergy test can help you identify and avoid the allergens that lead to your allergic reactions. This can help you to prevent allergy symptoms.
Although there’s no cure for respiratory allergies, treatment is available to help control symptoms. Treatment options include immunotherapy, antihistamines, nasal sprays, and more. Certain complementary therapies can also help to control symptoms.
16 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.MedlinePlus.Allergy.American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.Hay fever/rhinitis.Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.Allergy Facts.Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America.Allergens and allergic asthma.Akar-Ghibril N, Casale T, Custovic A, Phipatanakul W.Allergic Endotypes and Phenotypes of Asthma.J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2020 Feb;8(2):429-440. doi: 10.1016/j.jaip.2019.11.008.MedlinePlus.Allergen.MedlinePlus.Allergic rhinitis.Ansotegui IJ, Melioli G, Canonica GW, Caraballo L, Villa E, Ebisawa M,et al.IgE allergy diagnostics and other relevant tests in allergy, a World Allergy Organization position paper.World Allergy Organ J. 2020 Feb 25;13(2):100080. doi:10.1016/j.waojou.2019.100080Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.Asthma diagnosis.American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology.Environmental allergy avoidance.American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.Hay fever.Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.What are the best treatments for allergies?Pitsios C, Tsoumani M, Bilò MB, et al.Contraindications to immunotherapy: A global approach.Clin Transl Allergy. 2019;9:45. doi:10.1186/s13601-019-0285-4Bozek A, Kozłowska R, Misiołek M, Ścierski W, Gawlik R.Omalizumab added to allergen immunotherapy increased the effect of therapy in patients with severe local allergic rhinitis.Hum Vaccin Immunother. 2022 Nov 30;18(6):2097818. doi: 10.1080/21645515.2022.2097818.Guo Y, Cai S, Deng J, Li J, Qiu L, Sun Q,et al.Trends and hotspots of acupuncture for allergic rhinitis: A bibliometric analysis from 2002 to 2022.Complement Ther Med. 2023 Nov;78:102984. doi: 10.1016/j.ctim.2023.102984.Trompetter I, Lebert J, Weiß G.Homeopathic complex remedy in the treatment of allergic rhinitis: results of a prospective, multicenter observational study.CMR. 2015;22(1):18-23. doi:10.1159/000375244
16 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.MedlinePlus.Allergy.American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.Hay fever/rhinitis.Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.Allergy Facts.Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America.Allergens and allergic asthma.Akar-Ghibril N, Casale T, Custovic A, Phipatanakul W.Allergic Endotypes and Phenotypes of Asthma.J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2020 Feb;8(2):429-440. doi: 10.1016/j.jaip.2019.11.008.MedlinePlus.Allergen.MedlinePlus.Allergic rhinitis.Ansotegui IJ, Melioli G, Canonica GW, Caraballo L, Villa E, Ebisawa M,et al.IgE allergy diagnostics and other relevant tests in allergy, a World Allergy Organization position paper.World Allergy Organ J. 2020 Feb 25;13(2):100080. doi:10.1016/j.waojou.2019.100080Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.Asthma diagnosis.American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology.Environmental allergy avoidance.American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.Hay fever.Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.What are the best treatments for allergies?Pitsios C, Tsoumani M, Bilò MB, et al.Contraindications to immunotherapy: A global approach.Clin Transl Allergy. 2019;9:45. doi:10.1186/s13601-019-0285-4Bozek A, Kozłowska R, Misiołek M, Ścierski W, Gawlik R.Omalizumab added to allergen immunotherapy increased the effect of therapy in patients with severe local allergic rhinitis.Hum Vaccin Immunother. 2022 Nov 30;18(6):2097818. doi: 10.1080/21645515.2022.2097818.Guo Y, Cai S, Deng J, Li J, Qiu L, Sun Q,et al.Trends and hotspots of acupuncture for allergic rhinitis: A bibliometric analysis from 2002 to 2022.Complement Ther Med. 2023 Nov;78:102984. doi: 10.1016/j.ctim.2023.102984.Trompetter I, Lebert J, Weiß G.Homeopathic complex remedy in the treatment of allergic rhinitis: results of a prospective, multicenter observational study.CMR. 2015;22(1):18-23. doi:10.1159/000375244
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
MedlinePlus.Allergy.American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.Hay fever/rhinitis.Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.Allergy Facts.Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America.Allergens and allergic asthma.Akar-Ghibril N, Casale T, Custovic A, Phipatanakul W.Allergic Endotypes and Phenotypes of Asthma.J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2020 Feb;8(2):429-440. doi: 10.1016/j.jaip.2019.11.008.MedlinePlus.Allergen.MedlinePlus.Allergic rhinitis.Ansotegui IJ, Melioli G, Canonica GW, Caraballo L, Villa E, Ebisawa M,et al.IgE allergy diagnostics and other relevant tests in allergy, a World Allergy Organization position paper.World Allergy Organ J. 2020 Feb 25;13(2):100080. doi:10.1016/j.waojou.2019.100080Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.Asthma diagnosis.American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology.Environmental allergy avoidance.American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.Hay fever.Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.What are the best treatments for allergies?Pitsios C, Tsoumani M, Bilò MB, et al.Contraindications to immunotherapy: A global approach.Clin Transl Allergy. 2019;9:45. doi:10.1186/s13601-019-0285-4Bozek A, Kozłowska R, Misiołek M, Ścierski W, Gawlik R.Omalizumab added to allergen immunotherapy increased the effect of therapy in patients with severe local allergic rhinitis.Hum Vaccin Immunother. 2022 Nov 30;18(6):2097818. doi: 10.1080/21645515.2022.2097818.Guo Y, Cai S, Deng J, Li J, Qiu L, Sun Q,et al.Trends and hotspots of acupuncture for allergic rhinitis: A bibliometric analysis from 2002 to 2022.Complement Ther Med. 2023 Nov;78:102984. doi: 10.1016/j.ctim.2023.102984.Trompetter I, Lebert J, Weiß G.Homeopathic complex remedy in the treatment of allergic rhinitis: results of a prospective, multicenter observational study.CMR. 2015;22(1):18-23. doi:10.1159/000375244
MedlinePlus.Allergy.
American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.Hay fever/rhinitis.
Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.Allergy Facts.
Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America.Allergens and allergic asthma.
Akar-Ghibril N, Casale T, Custovic A, Phipatanakul W.Allergic Endotypes and Phenotypes of Asthma.J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2020 Feb;8(2):429-440. doi: 10.1016/j.jaip.2019.11.008.
MedlinePlus.Allergen.
MedlinePlus.Allergic rhinitis.
Ansotegui IJ, Melioli G, Canonica GW, Caraballo L, Villa E, Ebisawa M,et al.IgE allergy diagnostics and other relevant tests in allergy, a World Allergy Organization position paper.World Allergy Organ J. 2020 Feb 25;13(2):100080. doi:10.1016/j.waojou.2019.100080
Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.Asthma diagnosis.
American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology.Environmental allergy avoidance.
American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.Hay fever.
Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.What are the best treatments for allergies?
Pitsios C, Tsoumani M, Bilò MB, et al.Contraindications to immunotherapy: A global approach.Clin Transl Allergy. 2019;9:45. doi:10.1186/s13601-019-0285-4
Bozek A, Kozłowska R, Misiołek M, Ścierski W, Gawlik R.Omalizumab added to allergen immunotherapy increased the effect of therapy in patients with severe local allergic rhinitis.Hum Vaccin Immunother. 2022 Nov 30;18(6):2097818. doi: 10.1080/21645515.2022.2097818.
Guo Y, Cai S, Deng J, Li J, Qiu L, Sun Q,et al.Trends and hotspots of acupuncture for allergic rhinitis: A bibliometric analysis from 2002 to 2022.Complement Ther Med. 2023 Nov;78:102984. doi: 10.1016/j.ctim.2023.102984.
Trompetter I, Lebert J, Weiß G.Homeopathic complex remedy in the treatment of allergic rhinitis: results of a prospective, multicenter observational study.CMR. 2015;22(1):18-23. doi:10.1159/000375244
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